Thousands attend Cyril and Methodius celebrations at Velehrad

Thousands of people descended on the Velehrad pilgrimage site to attend
celebrations marking the 1153th anniversary of the arrival of Saints Cyril
and Methodius to Great Moravia to spread the Christian faith and lay the
foundations of literacy with the Glagolitic alphabet. The celebrations
opened on Tuesday evening with a charity concert within the Days of People
of Goodwill. On Wednesday they culminated with a divine mass at the
Velehrad Basilica celebrated by Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet. The events
at Velehrad this year include an exhibition of Byzantine icons by Bulgarian
artist Stefka Nikolova, lectures and public debates.